This report details graduation and persistence rates for degree-seeking students at the seven University of Hawaii Community Colleges (UHCC) from Fall 1987-Fall 1995. The data are from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems/University of Hawaii System Longitudinal Database Project. The report focuses on full-time and part-time…

This report highlights graduation and persistence rates for degree-seeking undergraduate students at the University of Hawaii Community Colleges, as of January 1997. The report covers seven campuses: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kapiolani, Kauai, Leeward, Maui, and Windward. The data are from the National Center for Higher Education Management…

This brief examines racial/ethnic differences in educational attainment, tracking student progress from high school to a postsecondary credential and examining where in this path racial/ethnic differences arise. It uses data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, "Fourth Follow-up, 2000, which tracks students who were in 8th grade…

This report examines how successful America's high schools have been in raising high school graduation rates over the past decade and how severe the high school dropout problem actually is. It reviews existing empirical evidence on the school dropout problems of America's youth during the 1990s. It also presents evidence to support the view that…

Among 13 indicators of high school quality are planned and board-approved curricula, strong graduation requirements, strong courses beyond the basics, positive school climate, good attendance, low dropout rates, high per-pupil expenditure, low pupil-teacher ratio, superior library and media resources, good faculty, caring principals, and high…

Discusses possible causes of grade inflation and standards deregulation. Offers examples of proficiency-based assessments. (six references) (LMI)

The relationship between performance on tests of minimum competency (MCT) required for high school graduation and dropout behavior was studied with 76,664 Florida students. Results indicate that MCT failure increases the likelihood of leaving school only for students doing well academically, but not for minority students or those doing poorly.…

An approach to fiscal accountability used at Emporia State University (Kansas) demonstrates how a student academic advising center can improve fiscal stability by increasing retention and graduation rates, thereby increasing enrollment-based appropriations. The method links retention and graduation figures and trends for each year and trends in…

Presents results from a study comparing General Educational Development (GED) certificate holders and traditional high school graduates enrolled at Florida's community colleges in terms of admissions, enrollment rates, program completions, and academic success. Indicates that GED holders have lower grade point averages and graduation rates than…

A basic writing course at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, serves students underprepared for first-year composition. The student population is culturally diverse, varying widely in ability and background. The course has evolved from a basic syllabus designed to teach writing skills to a more comprehensive, student-centered curriculum…

A structural equation modeling approach was used to investigate general education achievement gains in 6,409 students at 34 colleges and universities. Results indicated gains were highest among students attending institutions where general education requirements were under 40% of overall requirements or were not equally distributed among…

Assesses differences in academic and athletic motivation levels among white and black student-athletes, and probes two possible causal variables for graduation rates by examining postgraduate expectations of student-athletes and aspects of their social, cultural, and personal orientations. Survey responses from 327 college athletes reveal…

College costs are rising and enrollments are at an all-time high, yet the proportion of students earning degrees has stayed more or less constant for decades. This leads some to conclude that colleges aren't holding up their end of the educational bargain. The question, Do they graduate? is receiving the most scrutiny by state legislatures and by…

This research compares the study-abroad perceptions and preferences of business and non-business majors. The results suggest that the two groups have somewhat different motivations for studying abroad. On balance, business students appear more pragmatic than their non-business counterparts, expressing greater concern for financial issues, and the…

The purposes of this study were to ascertain which Texas public community colleges have been able to graduate the highest percentages of black males and to analyze the factors contributing to that achievement. An institutional questionnaire was developed, designed to elicit information regarding policies and/or practices directly related to the…